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I am appealing to the person who stole a box of flags from the front of the Flag Shop on Stony Plain Road and 155 Street. Purolator left them there on Wednesday afternoon. Even though we have a sign that says all couriers go to the back, they just dropped the box at the front door. Of course they are gone.

These flags were to honour health-care heroes. The profits of the flags were to go to the COVID relief fund. Please bring them back — no questions asked. Come to the back door between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday–Friday.

These are really important flags, not for making money, but to thank the health-care workers. Please return them.

Phyllis Bright, The Flag Shop, Edmonton

Cancelling superlab was wasteful, short-sighted

Only days after winning the provincial election in April of last year, the UCP government proceeded to cancel the Edmonton superlab project, which was already under construction with $23 million invested. Millions more were most likely needlessly wasted in extricating the government from the numerous contracts associated with terminating a project already well underway.

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The purpose of the superlab was to consolidate medical laboratory services and put them under the direct control of Alberta Health Services.

Although I fully realize that the superlab project would not have been operational at this point, it seems to me that this is exactly the type of public infrastructure we need to have in order to provide co-ordinated and reliable health data to decision makers, not to mention adequate and efficient means of testing, particularly in times of public health emergencies.

The UCP’s decision to cancel the superlab should thus be seen for what it was — an incredibly short-sighted decision that will have profound public health implications for Albertans in the post-COVID-19 era.

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James Kosowan, Edmonton

Economy never fully shut down

We’re making a big deal about Alberta’s economy re-opening. Truth is, it has never been fully closed.

People have been cooking, cleaning, baking. They have been caring for others. But the economy ignores these activities, because it is usually unpaid work, typically done by women.

People have been making music, writing, drawing, painting, photographing. But the economy ignores them, because this is the realm of artists, whose work is not valued by a government that keeps cutting funding.

People have been teaching and learning. But our economy does not value teachers and educational professionals, as their positions get cut when they are most needed, especially educational assistants who aid vulnerable students.

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People have been working full-time so that those who are more privileged can stay at home. Some said these very same people did not deserve a raise in minimum wage, but are now considered “essential,” “front-line workers,” and even “heroes.” In truth, they are victims of the economy.

There are many more things that we have been doing to keep the world turning, to keep ourselves busy, and to make the world a better place. But these don’t register in an economy based only on wages and profits. Our economy is exploitation.

Paula E. Kirman, Edmonton

Letters welcome

We invite you to write letters to the editor. A maximum of 150 words is preferred. Letters must carry a first and last name, or two initials and a last name, and include an address and daytime telephone number. All letters are subject to editing. We don’t publish letters addressed to others or sent to other publications. Email: letters@edmontonjournal.com

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